Directional gyroscope indicator



Aprifi 27, 1954 Filed Dec. 4, 1951 H. KONET DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE INDICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HENRY A ONE 7' April 27, 1954 H. KONET 2,677,120

DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 4, 195] 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HE N/PV KONET BY April 27, 1954 Filed Dec. 4, 1951 Oi N H. KONET DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE INDICATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

Hg/vpy KONET Patented Apr. 27, 1954 2,677,120 DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE INDICATOR Henry Konet, Hohokus, N. J., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, poration of Delaware Teterboro, N. J., a cor- Application December 4, 1951, Serial No. 259,832

3 Claims.

The invention relates generally to gyroscope instruments and more particularly to directional gyroscope indicators adapted for use on moving craft, such as aircraft and marine vessels.

One object of the present invention is to provide a directional gyroscope indicator having novel structure for drivably connecting a pointer to the gyroscope for movement relative to a dial, and whereby the pointer alone, or the pointer and dial together may be adjusted without disturbing the gyroscope.

The invention contemplates a directional gyroscope indicator having a pointer movable relative to a. dial and drivably connected to a gyroscope by a magnetic clutch. Means is provided for disengaging the pointer from its driving engagement with the gyroscope and for adjusting the pointer alone or the pointer and dial together without disturbing the gyroscope.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is in part an elevation View and in part a vertical section of a directional gyroscope indicator constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure l and drawn to smaller scale.

Figure 3 is a front view of the indicator, and

Figures 4 and 5 are detailed vertical sections drawn to enlarged scale and taken approximately on the lines 3-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the novel directional gyroscope indicator of the present invention, the indicator is shown in Figure 1 as comprising a hermetically sealed housing enclosing a threedegree-of-freedom gyroscope 3 comprising a rotor 5 supported by an inner gimbal 1 for rotation about a horizontal axis. An outer gimbal 9 mounts inner gimbal 1 for angular movement about an axis perpendicular to the spin axis and gimbal 9 is mounted for angular movement in housing I about an axis mutually perpendicular to the aforementioned axes, The spin axis is maintained horizontal by an erecting motor controlled by a pendulum |3 operating a switch (not shown).

A pointer I5 is fixed to a hub H of magnetically permeable material (Figures 4 and 5) rotatable and movable axially on the outer end I 9 of a shaft 2| rotatably mounted at its inner end 20 in housing Pointer l5 and hub l1 are drivably connected to shaft 2| by a magnetic clutch 23 having a permanent magnet member 25 rotatable with shaft 2| and engaging hub |1. As indicated in Figure 4, the flux from the magnet passes through flanged collar 26 on shaft 2| engaging the magnet, through hub l1 and back to the magnet. A gear 21 is fixed to the inner end 20 of shaft 2| and drivably engages a gear 29 fixed to outer gimbal 9.

When the craft in which the instrument is motuited executes a turn, the gyroscope remains stationary in space and housing moves angularly about the gyroscope, whereby the pointer indicates the heading of the craft on a dial 3| (Figure 3) provided with compass graduations and supported by hOllSlllg Due to the tendency of the gyroscope spin axis to wander in a horizontal plane because of bearing friction and other causes after the gyroscope operates for a prolonged period, pointer I5 may indicate on dial 3| a faulty heading of the craft, and it is necessary periodically to correct the reading of pointer l5. Magnetic clutch 23 provides for disconnecting the pointer from driving engagement with the gyroscope by separating hub 1 from magnet 25 to interrupt the flux path so that the pointer may be rotated relative to the gyroscope and without disturbing the gyroscope.

Pointer 5 may be relieved from driving engagement with the gyroscope by moving a knob 33 (Figures 3 and 4) axially inwardly of housing and pointer I5 may be rotated relative to the gyroscope by rotating knob 33. Knob 33 is drivably connected through an airtight bellows arrangement 35 to a shaft 31 arranged for rotation and axial movement in a bearing 39 in a web 4| in housing Shaft 31 has a detent 43 engageable by a spring-loaded ball 5 to hold the shaft and knob in adjusting position.

An idler shaft 41 is rotatably supported in housing and at one end mounts a gear 49 arranged to mesh with a gear 5| pinned to shaft 31 and at its other end mounts a gear 53 meshing with a gear 55 rotatably supported for axial and rotating movement by a bearing 51 encircling magnet 25. When knob 33 is moved inwardly, gears 49, mesh and when the knob is rotated, it rotates shaft 31, gear 5|, gear 49, shaft 41, gear 53, and gear 55.

Gear 55 has a clutch surface 59 on its forward edge which cooperates with a clutch surface 60 on the rear face of a flange 51 on hub l1. Gear 55 is moved axially into engagement with hub l'i (Figures 2 and 4) by a shifting fork 63 pivotally supported by web 4|. One end of the shifting fork engages gear 5! and the other end engages gear 55. When knob 33 is moved axially inwardly of the housing, shifting fork 53 moves gear 55 into engagement with hub I1 and the clutch faces provide a driving engagement therebetween so that rotation of knob 33 rotates pointer I5. one end on shifting fork 63 and at its other end on gear 59 urges th shifting fork and gear 55 into retracted position. whereby the pointer is drivably connected to the gyroscope.

In some instances it may be convenient to follow a set course when the pointer is in a predetermined position and the craft is on course. The pointer and dial, therefore, are movable together relative to the gyroscope without disturbing the gyroscope. To effect this adjustment a knob 85 (Figures 3- and 5) is moved axially inwardly of the housing to disengage pointer from driving engagement with the gyroscope and the knob is rotated to adj st the pointer and dial.

The mechanLm for effecting this adjustment (Figures 2 and 5) is substantially the same as that described for moving the pointer alone and comprises a shaft iii supported for axial and rotatable movement by web 5! in housing I. Shaft El has fixed thereto a gear adapted to mesh with a gear ii on one end of an idler shaft 53 mounting on its other end a gear 15 meshing with gear 55. A shifting fork Ti (Figures 2, 4, and 5) is pivoted on web ii and at one end engages gear The other end of the shifting fork engages a ring it slidable axially on gear 55 and engaging a pin 8i extending through an aperture in gear 5 A sleeve member 83 mounts pin 8| and is sliaable on the hub 85 of gear 55 and is urged toward the gear by a flat spring 86. When knob 65 is moved axially inwardly of the housing, shifting fork T pivots and moves member 33 axially on the hub of gear 55 and then engages gear 55 and moves the gear and member together until they engage the hub 8'! of dial 3i and the hub ll of pointer l5, respectively. The outer edge of sleeve member 83 and the inner face of hub 6? have cooperating clutch faces so that the dial and pointer both are in driving engagement with A compression spring 89 urges the shifting fork and gear 55 to retracted position and spring 85 urges member 83 to retracted position against gear 55.

The novel arrangement described provides a relatively simple mechanism for drivably connecting the pointer to the gyroscope and for disengaging the pointer from driving engagement with the gyroscope, and provides for adjustment of the point r alone or the dial and pointer together without disturbing the gyroscope.

A compression spring 54 seated at Although but one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the inven tion is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In an indicator of the class described, a shaft, a rotatable dial, a pointer rotatable relative to said dial, a clutch including a magnet drivably connecting said pointer to said shaft, a shifting fork for disengaging said pointer from its drivable connection to said shaft by separating said pointer from said magnet, and means for operating said shifting fork and for rotating said pointer and said dial together without disturbing said shaft.

2. In an indicator of the oiass described, a shaft, a rotatable dial, a pointer rotatable relative to said dial, a clutch including a permanent magnet drivably connecting said pointer to said shaft, manually operated means for adjusting said pointer alone or said pointer and said dial together relative to said shaft, means operated by said operating means for separating said pointer from said magnet to disengage said pointer from its driving connection to said shaft, and means drivabiy connecting said pointer alone to said manually operated means and for connecting said pointer and dial together to said manually operated means to adjust said pointer alone or said dial and said pointer together without disturbing said shaft.

3. In an indicator of the class described, a shaft, a rotatable dial, a pointer rotatable rela tive to said dial, a clutch including a magnet drivabiy connecting said pointer to said shaft, a pair of knobs, a pair of shifting forks actuated by said. knobs for disengaging said pointer from its drivable connection to said shaft by separating said pointer from said magnet, means operated by said shifting forks and providing a driving connection between said pointer and said knobs, said means in addition providin a driving connection between said dial and one of said knobs so that upon operating said one knob said dial and said pointer together may be adjusted without disturbing said shaft and upon operating said other knob said pointer alone may be adjusted without disturbing said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

